Family of man shot by LMPD claims police story is false

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Yoel Roberto Napoles-Ravelo died after police shot him outside his family’s Valley Station home last Thursday. The 32-year-old man’s father said the police account is false.

“He was neither holding a knife nor did he pose any real threat to the police officers on scene at the time of the shooting,” attorney Mike Cooper wrote on behalf of the father in a letter to Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.

Cooper also asked Greenberg for an independent investigation into the shooting.

According to an LMPD spokesman, three LMPD officers – Garret Schmeltz, Kendrick Eaves and Matthew J Forbes – fired at Napoles-Ravelo that night.

It is still unclear whether the shots were fired after officers tried less lethal methods such as a foam baton and a taser.

“When officers arrived, they encountered an agitated man inside the home where several other family members were present,” said interim Chief Paul Humphrey after the shooting. “The family members were able to safely exit the home and officers began a verbal dialogue to de-escalate the issue.”

During the de-escalation attempt, Humphrey said, Napoles-Ravelo picked up a knife, left the house “and began walking toward the officers with the knife in his hand.”

Last week, neighbors told WHAS11 that the shooting had shaken the neighborhood.

“It’s painful to know that someone lost their life,” said Latonya Kirkpatrick, “but you have to understand, these police officers have a life, a family, a job. They have things to do, they don’t know what they’re getting into.”

The police’s approach will become clearer when the bodycam footage of the shooting is released. According to LMPD procedure, this is scheduled for next Thursday, August 8.

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